โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
60
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Collie Airport (CIE), also known by its ICAO code YCOI, is a significant regional aerodrome located approximately 5 kilometers east of the town of Collie in the South West region of Western Australia. Situated in a region famous for its coal mining and power generation industries, the airport acts as a vital transportation node for the local community. The facility is owned and maintained by the Shire of Collie and is positioned at an elevation of 818 feet, surrounded by the Jarrah forests of the Darling Range.
The airport's infrastructure is characteristic of a functional, uncertified regional aerodrome, featuring a single 1,165-meter sealed runway (10/28). While there is no traditional passenger terminal building with commercial check-in counters, the airfield provides essential facilities for the aviation community. This includes a dedicated hangar and operations building for the Collie Aero Club, which is the heart of the local flying scene. The facility also features pilot-activated lighting (PAL) on 122.3 MHz, ensuring the airfield remains accessible during night hours or periods of reduced visibility. Ground facilities are basic, consisting of a sheltered waiting area, public restrooms, and specialized equipment storage.
A primary role of Collie Airport is serving as a strategic base for emergency services. It is a critical operational point for the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) during the summer bushfire season, housing water and fire-retardant tanks for aerial firefighting aircraft. The airport also features a dedicated patient transfer facility for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), providing a reliable landing point for aeromedical evacuations in the South West. While there is no scheduled commercial airline service, the airport facilitates private charters, flight training, and essential government travel. Ground transportation into central Collie is typically arranged via local taxis or private vehicle pickups, as on-site services are minimal.
๐ Connection Tips
Collie Airport (CIE) should be treated as a local-access and emergency-aviation field in Western Australia's South West rather than as a scheduled-airline connection point. The airport can be useful for private aviation, resource-sector activity, firefighting, and outdoor recreation access, but it is not part of a conventional commercial flight chain. If your broader trip depends on an airline, the practical risk point is Perth or another larger airport, not Collie.
That matters because the road and coach transfer are the real connection here. Public transport can get you part of the way into the South West network, but a trip involving mountain biking, Wellington Dam, or more remote recreation sites usually works best when the final vehicle and shuttle arrangements are confirmed before arrival. The airport itself does not solve those last-mile questions.
If Perth is still part of the same day, protect the airline timing there and treat the southbound leg as a separate regional movement. Long-distance coach connections and rural-road timing are more vulnerable to delay than they may first appear. CIE works best when Collie is treated as the final local gateway and Perth as the protected hub. The airport's value lies in proximity to the region, not in acting as a fallback commercial terminal if the larger itinerary changes.
โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
60
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
The terminal at Arrabury Airport (AAB) is a misnomer in the traditional sense, as the facility is essentially a private unsealed airstrip serving the Arrabury Station and the remote Tanbar region. There is no formal terminal building, but rather a basic staging area that may include a small shed or shelter primarily used for storing essential supplies or providing temporary respite from the intense Queensland sun. Ground operations are handled on an as-needed basis by station staff, and the apron area is simply a cleared patch of ground adjacent to the runway.
Because the airport serves private and charter aviation almost exclusively, there are no passenger facilities such as check-in desks, security checkpoints, or baggage carousels. Travelers arriving here are typically visitors to the cattle station, government officials, or emergency services such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The check-in process usually involves direct communication with the pilot or station management. The environment is one of extreme isolation, with the nearest significant infrastructure being hundreds of kilometers away.
The lack of amenities is total; there is no running water, electricity, or telecommunications infrastructure dedicated to passenger use at the airstrip itself. Any needs must be met at the Arrabury Station homestead or through the supplies brought by the aircraft. The transition from aircraft to ground transport, usually a 4WD vehicle from the station, is immediate and takes place directly on the dirt apron. It is a functional facility designed for utility in one of Australia's most rugged and sparsely populated landscapes.
๐ Connection Tips
Connecting at Arrabury Airport requires exceptional pre-planning as this remote cattle station airstrip in Queensland's Channel Country operates without any scheduled commercial services. All flights must be arranged as private charters or station-coordinated aircraft, typically originating from regional centers like Charleville, Mount Isa, or Longreach. The 7,600 square kilometer Arrabury Station, located approximately 186 kilometers southeast of Birdsville and 106 kilometers north of Innamincka, represents one of Australia's most isolated pastoral properties, making aviation the only practical means of access for much of the year.
Runway conditions at this unsealed airstrip are critically dependent on weather patterns unique to the Channel Country, where rare but intense rainfall events can transform the normally dry landscape into impassable flood plains. Pilots must obtain current runway condition reports directly from station management before attempting any landing or departure, as the dirt surface becomes completely unusable when wet, potentially stranding aircraft and passengers for days or even weeks. During the wet season, which typically occurs between December and March, the Cooper Creek system can flood extensively, cutting all ground access routes and making the airstrip the sole lifeline for emergency evacuations.
Coordination between arriving and departing aircraft requires direct communication with Arrabury Station management, as there are no air traffic control services, ground handling equipment, or refueling facilities available at the airstrip. Charter operators familiar with Channel Country operations typically carry sufficient fuel for return journeys and advise passengers to bring all necessary supplies, including water, food, and emergency equipment. The Royal Flying Doctor Service maintains this location as a potential emergency landing site, and travelers should be aware that medical evacuations take priority over all other aircraft movements, potentially affecting connection schedules without notice.
โ Back to Collie Airport